Electrical connector



Oct. Z1, 1941. B. cox

ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR FiledvMay 5, 1941 ervzz Caz' 2" @www Patented oer. 21, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT. oFFlcE *I I ELEo'ralosglNEc'ron z 01...... ,I" ma This invention relates to electrical connectors, 'and aims to provide a connector which is particularly suited for l connecting switch -boards and similar equipment with bus bars and cables carrying heavy electrical loads. An important object ofv my invention is to provide a connector of the above character which eliminates sharp bends and kinks such as frequently occur in connections made according to the customary practice of extending flexible conductors between the bus bars and the angularly odset switch boards to be connected therewith.

' Other objects and advantages of the inventioni will be apparent from the following detailed de` scription of a preferred embodiment of the invention, reference being had to the drawing in which:

v Figure 1 shows in side view a connector extending between a bus bar and a switchboard;

Figure 2 illustratesfa pair of companion interiitting terminal plates forming part of the oonnector'of Fig. 1; and

Figure 3'is a side view oi one of the terminal plates.

Referring to the drawing, in Fig. 1 is illustrated 'an electrical connector C leading oif from a bus bar I to a binding post stud 2 of a switchboard 3. This connector comprises three major parts, namely a pair \of interfltting terminal plates 4 and 4a providing4 a hinged connection with the bus bar I, a'second pair of intertting terminal plates 5 and 5a identical, with'the p air of plates l and la and providing a hinged connection with the switchboard 3, and a bar t of conducting metal extending between corresponding inner.

plates la and 5a of the two pairs of hinged plates.

As best illustrated in Fig. 2, the terminal plates are of square or rectangular shape. Outer plate 4 is held in association Iwith the bus bar I by means of apair of clamps l fastened by tie bolts 8a. One edge of each plate is notched at regular intervals so as to provide al series'of projecting fingers. The fingers 1 along the edge of plate l are so spaced that the fingers 1a upon the adjacent edge of plate 4a nt snugly therebetween. A tie bolt l passes through registering openings IB provided in the fingers 1 upon both plates and a clamping nut II is threaded upon the end of the bolt which projects beyond one side of the pair of plates, this bolt serving to draw the fingers together into tight lateral contact.` By this construction a hinged connection is provided between the plates so lthat the angularity of inner plate 4a with relation to outer plate 4 may be In the same manner the pair oi terminal plates 5 and 5a are connected adjacent the switch board.

' All of the plates are centrally provided with openings I2, and this opening in the outer plate i 5 is adapted to pass the binding post stud 1 upon switchboard 3, a nut I3 threaded upon the projecting end of the stud serving to clamp the plate to the switchboard. One edge of the plate 5 is provided with spaced apart iingers Il, and interiitting between these fingers are fingers Ila extending :outwardly from the adjacentedge of inner plate 5a. A tie bolt I5 extends through registering openings in lthe fingers to provide in eiiecta hinged connection corresponding in all essentialrespects to the hinged connection formed between the plates l and la by the bolt 9. A nut 1s may be threaded onto the end of tie bolt lsf to clamp the ngers together contact.

4 The bar 6 is provided with openings I1 adjacent its ends, such openings adapted to register in tight lateral with the openings I2 in the contact plates 4a and 5a.- Studs I8 are adapted to pass through these registering openings and clamping nuts I5 threaded onto the projecting ends of the studs secure the ends of the bar 8 in tight ilat association with the inner plates 4a and 5a. The studs I8 also provide pivots at right-angles to the pivotsprovided by the tie rods 9 and I5, whereby the connector may be adjusted so as to suit itself to practically any condition likelyto be encountered in practice when connections are to be made between a bus bar and a piece of electrical equipment. The other binding post 2l of the switchboard may be connected with a bus bar (not shown) `constituting the other side'of the lcircuit -by the same kind of connector as that just described. l

While the connector has been described for use in making connection between a bus bar and a switchboard, this is to be regarded 'simply by way of example, and manifestly the connector may be used, either singly or in pairs, for con- -The connector is simple in construction, cheap in manufacturing cost, and is'capable of meeting all the usual conditions encountered in electrical practice.

Obviously various changea inthe form, construction, arrangement,U and combination of the several parts lof my electrical connector may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the nature an principle of my invention.

I claim: Y

1. An electrical connector comprising'two pairs of intertting hinged terminal plates, each o! said pairs comprising an inner plate and an outer plate said inner and outer plates each having a series of lingers extending from one edge thereoi.' and receivable within the spaces between the fingers on the adjacent plate, a rigid member of electrically conducting material extendingbetween the inner plates,` means connecting said l5 member to the inner plates for pivotal adjustment about an axis at right angles to the hinged connections between the pairs of plates, the outer v plate of one of said pairs being adapted as to be attached to 'a conductor and the outer plate of the other ofv said pairs being arranged to be .attached to a binding post of a piece of electrical equipment, and means for clamping the hinged plates of each pairinxed adiustedposltion.

2. An electrical connector adapted to provide 25 an electrical connection between an electrical conductor and the binding post of a piece of electrical equipment, said connector comprising two pairs of hinged terminal plates, each of said pairs comprising an inner. plate and an outer plate clamping the bar in iirm engagement with the faces of the inner plates. said outer plates being adapted for connection with either a high tension electrical conductor or the binding post of a piece of electrical equipment, and said inner and outel plates being of substantially identical con- Y struction ao thatonly two different stampings are required for the manufacture of .said connector. ,y

BERNIE COX, 

